You may recall, pitched an emotional debate last year as lawmakers debated and passed the sweeping anti-trans measure, Senate Bill 150, which restricted gender affirming care in Kentucky.

Critics of that bill were back today for the 2024 fairness rally, where lawmakers and queer youth rallied for better LGBT TCU plus legislation in Kentucky.

That, by the way, wow, why not wait on it?

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about.

My name is Emma Curtis.

I am running to represent Lexington's Fourth Council District and I am a proud transgender Kentuckian.

Now, these legislators have chosen to use their power to punch down at our most vulnerable, to use our queer and trans youth as political pawns in a so-called culture war that they think will help them hold on to power for just a little bit longer.

We have already won the so-called culture war because you cannot legislate a group of people out of existence.

You can try to take away our rights.

You can bully us.

You can try to take away our health care.

But you cannot take away our humanity.

There are some individuals who are on the ballot this year who identify as LGBTQ.

I'm not going to say who those individuals are, but for those individuals who are here and who identify as LGBTQ, please join me up here right now.

Ten years ago, it wasn't that many of us.

Five years ago, it wasn't that many of us.

I want you to look at these faces who are bold, who are brave, and who are courageous.

You know, last week, Greece passed marriage equality and the prime minister of Greece made a statement to his country that touched my heart.

And I want to share it with you.

People who have been invisible will finally be made visible around us.

And with them, many children will finally find their right place.

Some of my colleagues at this point are so scared that their goal is to build a community without you.

They don't want you in their community.

They don't want blacks.

They don't want gays.

They don't want trans.

They want what they have always had.

And their time is over.

Advocates rallied against 13 bills circulating in the Kentucky General Assembly this year.

They call that the slate of hate.